Speed regulating device



Oct. 24, 1933. J. s, oEcHsLE SPEED REGULATING DEVICE Filed April ll, 1930 JOSEPH S. OECHSLE 1? Patented Oct. y 24, 1933 mesne assignments, to Worthington Pump and Machinery Corporation, New York, N. Y., a oori poration of Virginia Application April 11, 1930. Serial No. 443,325

2 Claims.

This invention relates to pneumatically operated speed regulators, particularly of the type adapted for controlling and regulating the speed of operation of an internal combustion engine used for driving an air compressor. I v

Among the principal objects of the present invention is the provision of an improved construction of throttle or speed regulating mechanism which is automatically operative to reduce the engine speed to idling whena predetermined pressureis attained in' the air receiver `of a compressor.

A further object -of the invention is the provision of a pneumatically actuated regulator device whichis designed to `operate directly upon the throttle valve of the ldriving engine.

Still another object of the invention'is the provision of an improved construction of throttle or speed regulating mechanism including a pivotally mounted cylinder and a `slidable plunger therewithin, the arrangement being such that the cylinder land the parts immediately associated therewith rock bodily about a pivotal support to compensate for angular variations between the plunger rod and the throttle lever connected thereto, thereby precluding undue looseness or play between the plunger rod and said lever and insuring at all times a more positive and direct operation of the latter.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a speed regulating mechanism which is durable in use, which is simple in construction and which requires a minimum of attention.

.Still other objects and advantages of the invention Will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the combination, constructionflocation and relative arrangement of parts, all 'as will be described more fully hereinafter', vas shown in the accompanying drawing and as n'ally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the said accompanying drawing:-

Figure 1 is a general elevational view showing the invention operatively mounted upon a driving engine the speed of which it is designed to regulate;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the speed regulating mechanism constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

Figure 3 is a' vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged more or less diagram-,

of, various relative positionsof the speed regulating mechanism and the parts immediately associated therewith. v Referringnow more particularly to the drawing it will beobserved that the speed regulating mechanism, designated generally by the reference numeral 10,L has been shown applied to an internal combustion engine 11 constituting the medium for an air compressor (not shown). In its illustrated application the invention is employed to regulate the speed of the engine 11 in accordance with the requirements for'air, the function of this mechanismbeing to automatically reduce the enginespee'd to idling when aY predetermined pressure is attained in the air receiver. In order to eiiectv this function the speed regulating mechanism is subjected to the discharge pressureof the compressor such that When'a predetermined pressure is -attained the engine speed is reduced and remains so until the demand for air increases. The useof this speed regulating mechanism results not only in a saving of fuel and oil but also insures against excessive wear of the moving parts of the engine and compressor due to the fact that at' no time is the driving engine permitted to operate atan excessive speed or at a speed greater than its minimum idling speed when unloaded.

As appears most clearly in Figure 2 the speed regulating mechanism consists generallyv of a cylindrical body 12 the lower end of which is provided with a laterally projecting boss 13 providing' an inlet port 14 which is in communication with the interior of thecylindrical body 12. Provided on the lower endof this cylindrical body 12 is a transversely apertured knuckle 15 which is adapted to be received between a pair of laterally spaced upstanding lugs or arms ldformed cna suitable mounting bracket 17. This mounting bracket-17 may be provided witha substantially flat base adapted to be fixedly secured in position by means of the screws or bolts 18. Preferably the mounting .bracket is secured in position with the base thereof bolted flatwise upon any suitablehorizontally disposed portion of the driving engine 11 or the frame therefor and below the throttle the operation of which it is desired to control. This throttle, which is designated generally in the drawing by the reference numeral 19, is ordinarily in the form of a butterily valve arranged for oscillation about a horizontal axis. Extending through the aligned apertures in the knuckle 15 of the cylindrical body 12 and the upstanding lugs 16 of the supporting bracket 17 is a pintle 20, the arrangement being such as to permit oscillation of the cylindrical body 12 about said pintle as an axis. Preferably, this pintle 20 parallels the axis about which the throttle 19 is oscillatable.

Arranged kwithin the cylindrical body 12 for movement axially thereof is a piston assembly 21 to the upper end of which is secured a piston rod 22. This rod extends longitudinally of the cylinder` 12 with the free end thereof projecting exteriorly of the upper end of the cylinder. Threadedly secured to this upper end of the cylinder is a bushing 23 having an elongated body 24 and an enlarged tool engaging head 25. vThe piston rod 22 is axially movable through the central longitudinally extending bore of the bushing. The bushing 23 is further provided with an elongated tubular portion 26 the -external diameter of which is less than the internal diameter of the cylindrical body and the lower end 27 of which terminates well within said body. The coiled compression spring 28 is arranged in embracing relation with respect to the piston rod 22 with the lower end thereof abutting the upper end of the piston assembly2l. The upper portion of this compression spring,28 isdisposed within the annular space formed between the cylinder l2 and the tubular portion 26 of the bushing 23 with the upper end thereof abuttingv ythe shoulder 29 formed at the inner end of the threaded portion of said bushing.

It will be .understood` that this coiled compression spring serves constantly to exert a downward pressure against the upper end of the piston 21 and so tends to maintain the'latter in the position shown in Figure 2, 4The upper limit of the piston movement is of course determined by the position of the lower end 27 of the tubular portion 26 of the bushing, this upper limit being readilyadjustable upon axial adjustment of the bushingl 23 with respect to the cylindrical body 12. A lock nut 30 may be provided to lock the bushing 23 in predeterminedly adjusted position.

As appears most clearly in Figure 3 the upper end of the p-iston rod 22 has threadedly secured thereto a coupling member 31 effecting a universal joint connection between said piston rod and a lever 32 one end ofwhich is clamped, as at 33,- to the transversely extending pintle 34 of the throttle 19. This coupling member 31 preferably comprisesla cylindrical body having an aperture 35 in the side wall thereof, this aperture being in communication with a recess 36 formed in the body of the coupling member. Disposed within` the bottom of this recess 36 is a spring pressed member 37 the upper surface of which is concaved to provide asubstantially spherical seat 38. Threaded into the upper end of the coupling member 31 and arranged to close the upper end of the recess 36 4is a plug 39 the lower end of which is concaved to provide a substantially spherically shaped seat 40.

A stem 41 having a spherically shaped head 42 is adapted to be projected axially through the aperture 35 such that said head 42 is received between the vertically spaced spherical seats 38 and 40 of the members 37 and 39 respectively. When the member 39 is threaded into the position shown the spring pressed member 37 coacts therewith to prevent withdrawal of the siem 4l from the coupling member 31 and yc'. permits universal movement of the former with respect to the latter. The lever 32 one end of which is fixedly secured to the throttle valve pintle 34 is provided in the opposite end with an aperture through which the stem 41 is projected. Nut-s 42 maintain the lever 32 and the stem 4l in the assembled relation shown, the aperture in said lever being sufficiently large to permit relative angular movement between said lever 32 and the coupling member 31, without permitting any undue looseness or play between these parts.

A flexible conduit 43 is connected between the cylinde'r 12 and the air receiver (not shown). This conduit through which air under pressure is supplied to the cylinder 12 for actuating the piston 21, being flexible, does not impede or interfere with the oscillatory movement of the cylinder l2. A suitable valve 44 may be in erposed the proximate end ofthe flexible conduit 43, thisy valve 44 being operative when closed, to cut out of operation the speed regula ing mechanism.

It will be understood that during the operation of the speed regulating mechanismthe air cylinder 12 oscillates about the pintle 2O as an axis, the angular displacement of the cylinder wi h respect to its normal vertical axis being dependent upon the extent of axial movement of the piston 21 therewithin. The relative posiions of the cylinder 12, the pistonrod 22, the lever 32 and the throttle valve 19 during various positions of the latter are quite clearly shown in Figure 5, it being observed that a direct and positive connection is at all times afforded between the piston rod 22 and the throttle lever 32.

It will be understood of course that v :ious changes `in and. modifications Aof, the inv `lion may be made from time to time without d larting from the real spirit or general principles thereof and it is accordingly intended to claim the invention broadly, as well as specifically, as indicaed by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:-

1. In a speed regulating mechanism, the com* bination with a throttle valve and an operating lever therefor, of a cylinder, a piston movable in said cylinder, a piston rod, a yieldably -mounted ball and socket joint connecting said pislon rod and said valve operating lever, said cylinder being pivotally supported topermit variation .of the angular relation betweensaid lever and piston rod upon movement of said piston.

2. In a speed regulating mechanism, the combination with a throttle valve and an operating lever therefor, of a cylinder, a piston movable in said cylinder, a piston rod, a yieldably mounted` 

